High School Basketball Season Opens Tonight For Jackets, December 8, 1959

1959 Leesburg High School Varsity Basketball Team

Left to Right: Coach Bill Travis, Johnny Ward, David Webster, Jeff Hart, Joe Heath, Larry Barnett, Bill Arnold, Max Wettstein, John O'Kelley, Buddy Stone, James Walker, Mike Cyrus, David Barnett, Manager.

 
Jackets To Clash With Fla. Military

Sports Staff
Daily Commercial
Tuesday, December 8, 1954

It will be a 'green'  but valiant Leesburg Yellow Jacket team that takes to the boards of the local armory tonight to match wits, brawn and speed with a dangerously fast Florida Military school, to kick off the basketball season for the locals.

With only four lettermen back this year, coach Bill Travis, says it may well be a mighty tough season for the Jackets.

What the locals lack in know how of battle may be offset by their height and speed. Average height of the team will touch on 6 feet and plenty of emphasis has been put on man to man defense to build individual self reliance.

Coach Travis said last week that he is relying on his team as a very well balanced bunch of boys, and is depending on them play rather than pinning his hopes on any one individual.

Lettermen back this year are seniors Joe Heath and Johnny Ward, and juniors James Walker and David Webster.

Included in the tough schedule this year will be two meetings with both Ocala and Wildwood. Ocala is a AA team and plenty rough on the scoring Wildwood will also present problems since they are defending district champions.

The cagers have shifted style and will break from a double post position this year and have the new method down to a well oiled precision on the floor.

Though a difficult season is in store for the Jackets, it's obvious that there will be some real surprises and upsets in store for basketball fans this year as Leesburg pulls every trick out of the hat starting tonight on the local court.

First game starts at 7 P.M.